AITOR KARANKA says Middlesbrough can count on the support of Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea title winners in their play-off semi-final clash at Brentford tonight (FRI).

Boro manager Karanka worked as Mourinho’s number two at Real Madrid - and is now bidding to join his former boss in the Premier League.

And the Spaniard has revealed his efforts to negotiate the two-legged semi-final and secure a place in the Wembley showdown at the end of the month will be guided by Mourinho.

Karanka said: “We are in touch every week, we spoke after Chelsea’s game against Palace to tell him my congratulations, when they became champions of the Premier League.

“Now they are at home cheering for Middlesborough.

“I was working with Jose for three years and when you have that relationship he is always giving me advice because I have only been a manager 18 months and I need to learn every day.

“In this moment the main thing is to manage the emotions. It’s not the same managing Real Madrid players to manage Championship players. It’s different but I hope I can learn.”

Karanka admits he had never heard of Brentford two years ago but now faces them in the biggest game of his managerial career.

And he has prepared for the game by taking his squad to Marbella for a four-day training trip in an effort to shake off the disappointment of missing out on promotion in the final two games of the season.

He added: “Of course this is the biggest game of my life, without a doubt. It is the first time that I have played for something.

“Of course I have experience as a player, with Jose and all are different but I hope I am ready and I am loving every single second.”

Boro striker Patrick Bamford remains a major doubt with an ankle problem and has not trained with the rest of the squad this week.